Community Centre Funding Good News for Upper Miramichi

November 10, 2009

Left to right are: Mike Allen, Member of Parliament for Tobique-Mactaquac; Tilly O'Neill-Gordon, Member of Parliament for Miramichi; Scott Clowater, Mayor of the Rural Community of Upper Miramichi; and Rick Brewer, Minister of Human Resources and Minister responsible for the Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat.


RURAL COMMUNITY OF UPPER MIRAMICHI – Residents of the 16 communities forming the Rural Community of Upper Miramichi will soon benefit from a new multifunctional community centre, thanks to investments of close to $600,000 from all three levels of government.

Tilly O’Neill-Gordon, Member of Parliament for Miramichi, Hon. Rick Brewer, Minister of Human Resources and Minister responsible for the Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat, were joined by Mayor of Rural Community of Upper Miramichi Scott Clowater, for the announcement of the facility. Mike Allen, Member of Parliament for Tobique-Mactaquac, was also on hand since much of the community is located in his riding.

“The Government of Canada, through the Economic Action Plan, is taking steps to stimulate the economy, create jobs in rural New Brunswick and support communities hit hardest by the global economic downturn,” said MP O’Neill-Gordon on behalf of The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). “Our investment of more than $200,000 through the Community Adjustment Fund will allow the Rural Community of Upper Miramichi to create employment opportunities by constructing a new 3,500 square-foot, multi-functional community centre. In addition to municipal offices, the new Centre will provide a venue to deliver essential community services to youth, women and local workers.”

MP Allen later expressed his feelings about the announcement. “It is always great to see government investing in rural communities,” Allen said. “There is no doubt that the new community centre will be put to good use, and I’m sure it will be booked to the limit with activities and events to benefit local residents.”

“Our investment in this multifunctional centre will provide services for our youth and all community groups, improve the quality of their lives, and help us on our journey toward self-sufficiency,” said Brewer, on behalf of Hon. Victor Boudreau, Business New Brunswick Minister and Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation. “The Province of New Brunswick is proud to be an important partner in this community project for Upper Miramichi.”

The project involves the construction of a 3,500 square-foot multi-functional community centre for Boiestown and surrounding areas. The new multifunctional centre is designed to help foster economic and social activity in the community. The centre will provide space for youth in order to promote and undertake entrepreneurial initiatives in the area. The facility will also make available a location for local unemployed workers to prepare for employment opportunities. Local economic development agencies and municipal staff will utilize offices to provide services to the 16 communities forming the Rural Community of Upper Miramichi.

"Since incorporation in 2008, our major focus has been on economic development for Upper Miramichi. Creating the Upper Miramichi Community Development Centre brings many of the key players together to make this happen,” said Mayor Scott Clowater. "We are excited to partner with the federal and provincial governments to provide a place for entrepreneurs to access information on business start-ups, receive counseling, training, and participate in networking opportunities. This is a significant step forward for Upper Miramichi."

The Government of Canada will contribute $200,000 toward the project under the Community Adjustment Fund; a key economic stimulus initiative under Canada’s Economic Action Plan, while the Province of New Brunswick is also investing $200,000. The Rural Community of Upper Miramichi will provide the remaining $181,000 to complete the project.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides $1 billion over two years for the CAF program, which will help create jobs and maintain employment in affected communities. In Atlantic Canada, CAF is delivered by ACOA. For more information regarding the CAF application process, community criteria, and timelines visit ACOA’s website at
www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca.

For information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.